The World Ukrainian Summit 2026, organized by the Ukrainian World Congress in cooperation with the Ukrainian Society in Switzerland, concluded in the Swiss capital. The Ukrainian community in the US was one of the most active participants in the Summit, where over 300 leaders of Ukrainian organizations from 50 countries discussed support for Ukraine, international advocacy, and state reconstruction.
This was reported by Ukrainian World Congress.
The Summit was held on June 5-7 in Bern and became one of the largest international gatherings of the Ukrainian diaspora in recent years. The event was attended by representatives of Ukrainian civil society organizations, government officials, diplomats, business leaders, scholars, and international partners.
The opening of the forum was attended by the Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council for Ukraine, Jacques Gerber, who emphasized the role of Switzerland as an important partner of Ukraine in the field of humanitarian aid, reconstruction and international cooperation.
The summit began with a minute of silence in honor of the Ukrainian defenders and all victims of Russian aggression. UWC President Pavlo Grod emphasized that the main goals of world Ukrainianism remain the victory of Ukraine, its reconstruction and strengthening of the global Ukrainian community.
Key participants of the forum included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Ilona Gavronska, Chairman of the Central Election Commission Oleh Didenko, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, and Ambassador of Ukraine to Switzerland Iryna Venediktova. The participants were particularly impressed by the speech of Ukrainian military paramedic Yulia Paevskaya “Tyra”, who shared her own experience working on the front.
Representatives of Ukrainian organizations from the United States played a significant role in the summit. During the plenary session “Reconstruction during wartime: how to help Ukraine today”, the president of Ukraine Global Scholars Yulia Lemesh and the president of United Help Ukraine Maryna Baydiuk shared their experiences. The participants discussed mechanisms for attracting international assistance, supporting Ukrainian communities, and practical approaches to rebuilding Ukraine during wartime.
At the panel dedicated to preserving Ukrainian identity, the Metropolitan of Philadelphia of the UGCC in the USA, the president of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Bishop Borys Gudziak, and the head of the School Board in the USA, Myroslava Rozdolska, joined the discussion. Together with other speakers, they spoke about the role of education, culture, and historical memory in strengthening Ukrainian communities in the world.
Countering disinformation and strengthening the voice of Ukrainian communities through media were discussed in a separate plenary session. Among the participants was Valeria Chunikhin, Director of Partnerships at United Help Ukraine, who presented the American experience of information support for Ukraine and the development of international communications.
“From meaningful meetings and new contacts to critical discussions and joint search for solutions, the Summit is filled with energy, purpose, and a shared commitment to Ukraine. One key message is clear: Ukraine’s recovery begins today. Participants discussed how we can help rebuild Ukraine now, what solutions communities need most, and what role international partners and the global Ukrainian community can play in promoting long-term recovery and resilience. Ukraine cannot be defeated as long as Ukrainians around the world remain united and continue to build strong partnerships with the international community,” noted noted United Help Ukraine.
On the last day of the forum, the President of the American Coalition for Ukraine, Marianna Tretyak, spoke at the session “Unity and Resilience of the Ukrainian World in the Face of Global Challenges.” The discussion was devoted to strengthening cooperation between Ukrainian communities in different countries, developing global campaigns in support of Ukraine, and interacting with government and civil society structures.
In general, the coalition representatives participated in international discussions on supporting Ukraine, combating disinformation, developing educational programs, and strengthening international advocacy.
“Over three days, participants discussed how to strengthen partnerships, counter disinformation, develop international advocacy for Ukraine, and support and strengthen education systems throughout Ukraine… We are extremely proud of our civic leaders who represented the American Coalition for Ukraine on the global stage and demonstrated the strength of American support for Ukraine,” said the American Coalition for Ukraine.
The main topics of the summit included international political and economic support for Ukraine, the role of the diaspora as a strategic partner of the state, support for Ukrainian migrants, countering Russian disinformation, and practical solutions for post-war reconstruction.
The result of the forum was the adoption of the Bern Declaration, a declaration that established the common priorities of global Ukrainians and defined the directions for further coordination of Ukrainian communities around the world to support Ukraine, its restoration, and strengthen international partnership.
Photo: Ukrainian World Congress
Author: Inna Mikhno